Rotator Cuff Injuries

Shoulder pain treatments

Rotator Cuff muscles and rehab

The rotator cuff is the name given to a group of muscles that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff muscles can be injured through overuse, excessive muscle force, direct and indirect trauma. The four muscles of the rotator cuff are referred to a (SITS), they include the following:

Supraspinatus

Infraspinatus

Teres Minor and

Subscapularis

Each of the rotator cuff muscles is involved in a slightly different angle of rotation of the humerus, hence the name “rotator cuff”.

How do the rotator cuff muscles work?

With the arm at the side, the external rotators (outward turning) are the infraspinatus and teres minor, and the internal rotator (inward turning) is the subscapularis.

The Supraspinatus helps with raising the arm upwards to the side with the arm internally rotated as if pouring ourt a jug of water. This explanation is an over-simplification of the muscle functions, since the angle of pull of each muscle will change as the arm is moved through space.

Certain aspects of the rotator cuff structure and function make it more susceptible to injury. The rotator cuff muscles primarily function to hold the humerus (arm) onto the scapula, keeping the head of the humerus centred as the arm rotates inwards and outwards.

If the muscles are not fully upto the tasks they are prone to injury, knots and dislocastions of the shoulder can potentially arise.

Aulty biomechanics (mechanics of the body) usually plays a significant role in these injuries. They include:

Tendonitis (inflammation in the tendon), tendinosis (degenerative changes within the tendon) and even tearing of the rotator cuff. Shoulder impingement, subluxation and dislocation can all lead to damage to the shoulder capsule and rotator cuff tendons.

At Croydon Sports Injury Clinic our chiropractors and physiotherapists are expertly trained to provide injury rehab for the rotator cuff. As we have seen, the importance of the rotator cuff in its role as a major stabiliser of the arm and its essential ability to allow almost 360 degrees of movement cannot be taken lightly. Some effective treatment approaches for the rotator cuff include rehab band strengthening and stretching routines, therapeutic ultrasound and interferential therapy.

Our clinics in Perth Western Australia also provide Medical Practitioner services and injections for the shoulder which have shown great results. These treatments for shoulder pain include prolotherapy, biomesotherapy, cortisone and other specialist techniques.

By obtaining the correct training program and preventative chiropractic and physiotherapy consultation our therapists can help steer your rotator cuff stability in a succesful rehab direction. If you are in need of rotator cuff rehab, need help or advice then contact Croydon Sports Injury Clinic on 0208 651 4439